Hemp breaking machine



Feb, E950 A. l... TRUMBO HEM? BREAKING MACHINE 5 She'ets-Sheez l Filed Sept.

.Feb 7, 1950 A. l.. TRUMBO HEMP BREAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept.

o m. M m V5 7 m /A M y U y R.. f M L f .WM A NQ A@ Feb, 7, E195@ A. L. TRUMBO EEMP BREAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. l, 1943 Febq 7s 195@ A. a.. TRUMBO HEMP BREAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. l, 1943 Feike Fis E95@ Af L. TRUMBO HEM? BREAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. l, 3.943

Patented Feb. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .BEMP 'BREAKIN G `MACHINE Adam L. .Trumbo, Lancaster, Ky.

1Application"September 1, 1943, Serial .'No. .500.851

14 Claims.

This invention relates :to a 'machine rior Atreating hemp.

An object ofthe invention :is the'provision of fa machine .for breaking-upthe hemp .stalks in a successive manner, -aftercwhich the lint or liber is separated from the .broken -stalks andris shaken to prevent `thelint-from being tangled `:or injured as itis :being carried rawayirom the breaking device.

yAnother object `of the .inventionzis the'proviksion of amachlne-.fcr =crushingnndhreaking the stalks of hempuatpoints on Athe l1ami-.\vhere the hemp has -oeen harvested, )after lwhich .the vlint `bers cfry bark from the-.stalksfare'separated from each other.

A further .objectof thezinvention :is -the .provision of a machine onbreaking'up hemp stalks Aand for :separating-the flint .bers ier bark from .eachother forthe:nltimateimannfacture of rope, twine and calkingmaterial for boats .and other numerous uses.

A still further :object of the 4invention .is the provision of Ia machneior :breaking upthe stalks of hemp and for shaking the Iflbersto prevent tangling .of vsarnewvlien thefipers Yare @being carried away from `the breaking machine.

Anotherobject wof the invention is theprovision of .a hemp treating lmacliinein which the kstalks :are fbroken up successively and progressively intoismall particles, andinvwhich `the bers are being carried away Yand properly alined, the Vhurds then being rarried to :a ablowerfwhere certain of the elements of the stalks are separated from the remaining elements.

Still another object of theinvention is the provision of a machine vvhichfrnay be used in various elds where the hemp is grown and which vis employed iorbreaking upthe. stalks lto ,loosen tthe lintafrom -thestalks, Athe .hemp being passed through a plurality .of rollers'with progressively .small ycorrugations until `the bersare discharged upon a vconveyor romthe fbreaking device during the travel vof the iibers upon 4the fconveyor, after they have left' the zbreaking device, vsaid bers being Ereceived-by ngerswhich .are moved directly tlmoughthefibers lwith the fingers 4being ,oscillated back .and v`iprthto yprevent tangling Vof the fibers.

This invention will he best understood Yfrom a-consideration .ofthe following detailed descrip tion, in View of the accompanying drawingsform- .ing a par-tof the specication nevertheless, it is to be understood thattheinvention is not conlined .to the disclosure, being susceptible of :such

changes and modifications .as define. no material departure fromthez salient features of theinvention as expressed inthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1V is aside-viewin elevation 7of themachine constructed yaccording to the principles of. my .invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line of A2--e2 .of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 .is a fragmentaryvside view of the machine, showing theroscillatingingers for shaking thenbers as they are passed .over the .conveyor.

Fig. 4 is a `fragmentary side lview partly in section of a large detail` of the operating means `for shaking Vthe iingers.

Fig. 5,)is an yenlarged .transverse vertical `section taken along the line of 5-5of Fig."3.

Fig. -6 is a fragmentary View l.partly in section showing .an enlarged ydetailo` a nger operating means.

Fig. .f7 .is an enlarged .fragmentary `side View of the hemp breaking device.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged lfragmentary lview in elevation of the opposite side of the hemp breaking machine.

Fig, 9 is a plan view of the hemp treating machine..

Fig. 1D is a fragmentary side viewshowing the mechanism for .operating the shaker device, and

Fig. -11 .isa Yfragmentary section .in elevation of the device illustrated4 in Fig. 10.

Referring more 4particularly .to the drawings, it will be seen that .the hemp breaking .machine is conveyed by a wheeled carriage which haslong v.beams l0 whioharesupported by .axles |.I and l2 and these ,axles are `.in turn supported by .the .respective wheels Iand 14. .The transverse 'bars .are shown .at l5.

Above the `framework vIl) is .a second vframe Agenerally designated `by 4the numeral mand this framework consists oflongitudinal bars 1.62 and these bars are supported above the vfraniework by means of posts L8.

,Supported upon the framework ends `or lthe Jlongitudinal,hars .Nilis a -device generally designated by the letter A `for breaking up the .stalks successively inra ina-nner which will be presently explained. Gn `the .remaining portion of the bars lafis mounted Iea ydevice designated hy the letter B for straightening .out the bers lafter they have left thezdevice A. .After the bers are discharged from the breaking device Asinto .the .device .B they .arecarried bymeans of va traveling carrier C which has annppernight toreceive @-5 .the bers. ,The v-lower ,night of vsaid carrier forces by a gear 6|, secured to the shaft 5|.

the released pieces of the stalks to the right in Fig. 1 along the top of floor 2|, which extends substantially the entire length of the machine so that the lower flight 22 of the traveling conveyor will return the stalks over the top of the floor 2| to a suction blower generally designated by the letter D.

The breaking device A consists of a plurality of pairs-of rollers which have their axles extending transversely of the frame and in vertical alinement so that when the material is fed to the first pair of rollers, said rollers will act on the hemp initially after which the hemp is passed between the pairs of successive rollers. Each successive pair of rollers are provided with corrugations at their surfaces and the corrugations progressively decrease in size but also progressively increase in number.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 'l and 8, it will be seen that the first pair of rollers designated by the numerals 25 and 26 have a smooth surface and are respectively carried by axles 21 and 28 and the ends of these axles are respectively carried by bearing blocks 29 and 3U.

The bearing block 29 is slidably mounted in a U-shaped frame 3| which also supports the bearing 30, and this frame is secured to the long beam 6'. A coil spring 32 is located between the bearing block 29 and a presser plate 33, which is carried by a screw 34 threaded into a nut 35 formed at the upper end of the frame 3|. A head 36 is adapted to be turned for increasing the pressure on the spring 32, or for relieving the pressure on said spring. The object of the spring is to per- Init a roller to be raised when too great a mass of material is passed between the rollers 25 and 26.

It will be noted from Figs. '1 and 8 that a yoke 3|, together with the associated parts, is located at each side of the machine A for each pair of rollers, the necessary bearings for supporting the various shafts of the rollers being employed.

A main drive shaft 40 is mounted in bearings 4| carried by the beams |6. A pulley 42 is secured to the outer end of the shaft and is driven by a motor (not shown) which may be separate from the machine or which may be carried by the frame. This shaft is provided with a -pair of gears 43 and 44. The gear 43 meshes with a gear 45, which is secured to a shaft 46, carried by bearings 48 at the outer ends of brackets 49, which project from the beam |66.

A gear 50 rigid with one end of a shaft 5| meshes with the gear 44 so that the shaft 5| will be revolved.

The lower roller 26 which has a smooth surface is driven by means ofa gear 45a meshing with a gear 52 which is rigid with one end of the shaft 28 at one side of the machine. The upper roller 25 is driven by a sprocket 53. which is rigid with the shaft 21 and this sprocket in turn is driven by a chain 54 and a sprocket 55 which is secured to the shaft 4U.

A pair of corrugated rollers 46 and 51 have the "respective shafts 58 and 59 mounted in bearings Vin the U-shaped brackets 3| on each side of the frame The shaft 59. and likewise the roller 51, 'is driven by a gear 60, which in turn is revolved The upper roller 56 is driven by the intermeshing of the cor.. rugations of said rollers.

It will be noted that the rollers 62 and 63 are provided with respective shafts 64 and 65 and these-shafts are carried by bearings which are 'likewise mountedin lg-shaped brackets 3| at each side of the frame;I AC gearAGB is secured to the naturally the corrugations are smaller.

outer end of the shaft 65 and this gear meshes with a gear 61 which is secured to the shaft 46. In other words, alternate pairs of the vertically disposed rollers are operated by the shaft 5|, and associated gears, while the remaining pairs of rollers are revolved by the shaft 46 and associated gears. The upper corrugated rollers in each pair are revolved by the intermeshing corrugations of the pair of rollers., 4It will be further noted that the rollers 5 6 .and'51 have the least number of corrugations and these corrugations are large. Rollers 62 and 63 have small corrugations but twice the number as do the rollers 56 and 51. Rollers 68 and 69 have double the number of corrugations as do the rollers 62 and 63 and The remaining rollers of the pairs may have the same number of corrugations as the rollers 68 and 69,

`or' they may have a greater number, thereby providing finer corrugations.

The last pair of rollers 16 and 1| discharge the crushed and broken stalks toward the endless conveyor C and this last pair of rollers is driven by a gear 12, secured to the shaft 5| which meshes with a gear 13, secured to a shaft 14 which in turn is connected to the roller 1| The conveyor C is driven by sprockets 15 carried by a shaft 16, Figs. 1, '1 and 8. On one end of the shaft is a sprocket wheel 11 upon which is trained a chain 18 which engages a sprocket 19 secured to the shaft 28 that drives the roller 26. The conveyor is supported at its other end by sprockets carried by a shaft 8| which is mounted in bearings 82 at the under face of the parallel bars |63. The conveyor consists of spaced parallel bars 83 secured to endless chains of conveyor C mounted on the sprockets 15 and 80. This open conveyor permits the broken stalks and refuse to fall through the conveyor on to the floor 2| but carries the` bers to the outer end of the machine. The conveyor is as wide as the machine and drags on the floor 2| the full width and moves all refuse into a chute 86 and thence into the blower.

A suction blower D is located adjacent chute 86 and is in communication with said chute. A propeller 9U is secured to a shaft 9| upon which is secured a gear 92 meshed with a gear 93, which is secured to a shaft 94. 'I'his shaft is driven by a grooved pulley 95, belts 96, a second grooved pulley 91 and the shaft 40. The shaft 94 is mounted in bearings 98 carried by a beam |9 and a cross beam 99.

The fan or blower is mounted in a casing |00 which has a tube IUI extending therefrom for discharging material at one side of the machine.

A device designated by the letter B is located above the remaining portion of the conveyor C which is not covered by the breaking device A. The purpose of the mechanism B is to receive the broken stalks from the last two rollers 1D and 1|, and shake the stalks with a transverse oscillating motion as they travel on the conveyor C thus causing openings between the strands of hemp fibers to permit foreign matter to fall through and away from said fibers, thereby cleaning the same. In other words, the mechanism B cooperates with the breaking machine A in a unitary manner in order to separate the fibers from the stalks. The broken pieces of the stalks will fall through the open spaces between the cleats 83 of the conveyor'C/and will be deposited on the table: 2|,whence sa'idjcleats will push the asse-mn rim endless member |1205 `is located'at each-side of .the frame and `these endless 4members Iare in the form of chains. They are trained on :pairs of sprockets 106 and l|01 at the opposite ends of the mechanism. 'I'he sprockets |05 are driven by -a `shaft y|00 to vwhich is secured la pulley vor sprocket |09 at one side ofthe machine. A chain or belt 'l Vl0 drives the sprocket `|509 from a sprocket vwhich is secured to a lshaft |2. vThe vshaft ||2 in turn is driven vby a gear v| I3 meshing with a gear H4. This gear |2|-4 is secured to the sha-it 14 at one side of the frame as shown in Figs. "9, and l1.

Referring more particularly 'to Figs. l, 3, Ail, 5, 6 and 9, it-will be seen that a plurality of spaced U-sh-aped bars are carried by pins l|-2| projecting laterally inwardly from the chains |05 and at spaced points. Each of the pins |'2| is provided with `an annular lgroove y|22, `lig. 4"6, which receives the end of a pin '|23 mounted iin the Aside walls |24 vand |25 Aof the U -shfaped member |120. The pins revolve in the ends vof the U- shaped bars. These bars at the lower flights of the chains |05 ride on angle irons |21 which are secured to the longitudinal bars |28which 'provide Asupports for the chains. 'The longitudinal bars are secured to posts |219 which lare mounted on `.the Abeams Ita. -A number of the posts |129ta's shown in Fig. 1 are spaced along the beams for supporting various elements. 'The upper ends of these posts are Vconnected to a pair of longitudinal beams |30 which extend the entire length of the machine. The intermediate portions of the beams |30 are vsupported by posts |3| and their forward lends which :are rinclined Adown w'ardfly, as indicated at |30a in Fig. l, are supported -on simil-ar lposts |312.

A plurality of iingers `|33 projects downwardly from the bars |20 and these fingers `are pivoted in series as shown at |34 within said bars. 1n other words these ngers `project between lthe sidewalls |24 and |25 of the bars |20.

A link `|35 connects each row of fingers together so that when one -of the lingers I3?,a or |33b is rocked the fingers in each row will be simultaneously rocked. Each link is U-shaped like the bars |20 and these links lare cut away as :shown at |35 to receive the iingers; pins |31 pivotally connect the fingers `to the links.

One linger |33e in alternate rows of fingers is within its associated transverse bar |20.. Anger |33b in each of the remaining rows has a head likewise projecting above the supporting bars |20 .and the .supporting iba-rs :are also cutaway :as shown at |4| to .permit rocking `of the iingers |33?. The remaining ngers |33 in 'each of lthe last mentioned rows are identical with the fing-ers I|33 of the `alternate rows. It will be noted-froniFigs. 5 and 6 that the heads |38 in lthe'alternate rows are located adjacent chain |05 `'on theright hand side 4of .the machine while the heads 440 are located adjacent vthe other chain |05 yon the lett hand side of the machine.

An oscillating means for `the ingers is .shown in Figs. .5 :and `6 `and consists fof transverse bars |42 which are connected-to the :posts l29fabove the .bars |20 or between the :upper v:and Alower flights of the chains |05. Bell-'cranks |43 and |44 are .pivotally mounted :as shown at :|45 von .an enlarged portion |4' of each of the transverse bars |42. The hell-.cranks 14.3.and |44hayerespective depending `arms i." .and 448 to which are connected 'the respective channel bars |40 and |50. Itrwillbe noted `that the channel bars |49 receive the heads l:|38 l.ofthe lfingers |33a in alternate rows, while the channel bars |50 ree ceive the heads |40 of the lingers |33b in the remaining rows of fingers.

A -shaft '|'5I is 4provided with a plurality of spaced eccentrics |52 which `are mounted in the adjacently disposed circular openings |53 in the horizontal arms of the bell-cranks |43. Thus .it Will be lseen that when 'the shaft |154 is revolved together with the eccentrics |52, the bell-cranks |43 willbe rocked-'as will be the ngers |33ad in the alternate rows, together with the associated ng-ers |33.

A vshaft |54 is located longitudinally over the conveyor C and adjacent one of the chains |05. This shaft passes through Vopenings |55 in 'the outer ends Yof the horizontal arms of the bell cranks '|44. In each of the openings of said arms is located an eccentric |55 which is secured to the shaft |54. Thus, Awhen said shaft lis revolved the bell-cranks |44 will be rocked 1for oscillating the arms |48 ioi said cranks thereby rocking the horizontally :disposed U-shaped member which .is connected to the lower free ends of the arms |548. Since said 'U-shaped members receive 'the heads |40 of ythe lingers |33b all of. the fingers will be rocked 'inthe lremaining rows of ngers in'viewfof the act'that all of the lingers in each row are connected together by the respective vlinks |35.

The shafts U|5| and |54 are mounted in bearings |1| and |12. The bearings |11 are supported Vby transverse bars 1585 carried by brackets |13 mounted on the beams IGa. Thebearings |12 are'secured'to--a bar 185sconnected to a pair of posts |29.

It will be noted from Figs. 1, '3, y9, v10 and 11, that the shaft |5| is operated by a gear |'6| which meshes `with ya .gear |60, secured to a shaft |62, :carried bybearing brackets |63a mounted on thebearns ma. This vshaft in turn is revolved Aby a `sprocket |04, a chain F65 and a sprocket |66, whichissecured'to shaft 1108, Figs. 3 andg. This shaft 'in vturn is revolved by a vsprocket |08, va chain F69 and -a sprocket |110, which is secured to theshaft |'|2, Fig. 1'0. The shaft |54 is revolved 'by a gear |15, `which meshes with a gear |16, secured to the-shaft |62, from which it will be seen that the shafts |54 and |5| are simultaneously rotated.

The shaft |108 is carried by bearings |0811, which aresecuredto vthe posts|3| (Fig. 9). The sprockets |01 fare secured to a :shaft |8| which is mounted in bearings `|132 carried by the lposts |329 .atvlthe raar endfof the `frame.

A feeding vtable 106x is located at the front of the machine to receive the stalks before .they reach the rollers 25 and 215. After the stalks pass between Athese rollers, 4they are slightly broken, and they are-brokento a greater extent when they pass between the successive ypairs of toothed rollersbeyond the .rollers '2'5 :and :26 until they emerge iromtthe rollers 1.0 .and 7|, whence the bers are :deposited npon the conveyor C., which is traveling .inthe direction-indicated by the arrow in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

.After vthe fibers `are Vprojected on to the conveyor'the fin-gers |33 :move downwardly lwith the' chains |05 and over :the :sprockets |06. .As the fingers oomedownwardly'they move through the fibers .as they :are :projected from the rollers '10 and lien :to the :oonYeyon'and thus these 'fingers aid in maintaining the fibers in proper positions after they reach the conveyor.

After the fibers are carried along the conveyor the rows of fingers |33 are likewise carried along at the same speed as the fibers. However as the heads |38 and |40 of the alternate sets of fingers enter their respective oscillating runways |49 and |50 the sets of ngers will be rocked simultaneously through their connecting links |35.

Since the timing of the cams |52 and |55 is coordinated with the timing of the movement of the fingers along their definite paths the heads |38 and |40 will be in a position to be received by their respective channel members |43 and |50. The movement of the arms |41 and |48 of the respective bell-cranks |43 and |44 are thus also timed to aline the channel members with the respective heads |38 and |40.

While the fibers are passing along the conveyor C under the fingers |33 the bers will be agitated back and forth so that the iibers will be maintained in proper alinement on the conveyor and thus tangling of the fibers will be prevented. The fibers are then discharged at the end of the conveyor and will be deposited at the rear end of the machine.

When the hemp is fed into the machine and passes through the various corrugations or fluted rollers, the stalks are broken up and a great proportion of the stalks, together with other refuse, falls down from the rollers and through the conveyor C on to the floor 2 |,whence the broken stalks and refuse are carried to the chute 86 and then into the blower D, whence they are discharged laterally from the machine.

The iibers which have been released from the woody portion of the stalks are then received by the transverse bars 83 on the upper fiight 20 of the conveyor. Any pieces of the stalks which have clung to the bers are loosened by the operation of the fingers |33 and these fingers tend to maintain the fibers in alinement throughout the travel on the upper flight toward the outer end of the machine where the fibers are discharged. When the fibers are discharged, they come out as straight lint and they are twisted in bunches to keep them from tangling, and placed in containers or other suitable receptacles. It would be appreciated, however, that the greater bulk of the stalks is removed after they pass through the fluted rollers of the breaking device A.

I claim:

1. In a hemp machine, a device for treating hemp stalks, a frame, a conveyor extending substantially the length of the frame, means over one end of the conveyor for breaking up the stalks and discharging the same on to the conveyor, a plurality of transversely spaced rows of fingers extending independently of and traveling along the remaining portion of the conveyor and projecting into the hemp carried thereon, means oscillating alternate rows of the fingers in one direction transversely of the conveyor, other means oscillating the remaining intermediate rows of the fingers in the other direction in alternation with the first mentioned rows, and means for moving the rows of fingers along the conveyor.

2. In a hemp machine, a device for treating hemp stalks, a frame, a conveyor extending substantially the length of the frame, means over one end of the conveyor for breaking up the stalks and discharging the same on to the'conveyora. second conveyor located above the first mentioned conveyor, a plurality of spaced rows of fingers on the second conveyor projecting into the hemp on said iirst mentioned conveyor, means for causing the fingers to be moved successively into the stalks as they are discharged from the breaking means, and means for rocking the fingers transversely of the conveyors.

3. In a hemp treating machine, a frame, an endless conveyor on the frame, a stalk breaking means over one end of the conveyor and delivering the broken stalks to the conveyor, means driving the conveyor, means over the other end of the conveyor for engaging the iibers when they are delivered to the conveyor, the last mentioned means including a pair of endless driven members, arranged with upper and lower runs, spaced transverse bars carried by the endless members, spaced fingers pivotally mounted on each bar with the lower run of the endless members projecting the fingers into the bers on the conveyor, means connecting together the ngers of each row on a bar for simultaneous rocking movement of said fingers, one finger in each row having a head above the supporting bar, a longitudinal U-shaped bar rockably mounted and adapted to receive the heads as the supporting bars are moved over the conveyor, and means for rocking the U-shaped bars transversely of the conveyor for rocking the iingers.

4. In a hemp treating machine, a frame, an endless conveyor on the frame, a stalk breaking means over one end of the conveyor and delivering the broken stalks to the conveyor, means driving the conveyor, means over the other end of the conveyor for engaging the iibers when they are delivered to the conveyor, the last mentioned means including a pair of endless driven members, arranged with upper and lower runs, spaced transverse bars carried by the endless members, spaced fingers pivotally mounted on each bar with the lower run of the endless members projecting the fingers into the fibers on the conveyor, means connecting together the fingers of each row on a bar for simultaneous rocking movement of said iingers, one nger in each row having a head, the head in each alternate row being located adjacent one end of the associated supporting bar, the heads in the remaining rows being disposed adjacent the other ends of the associated bars, a pair of spaced U-shaped bars rockably mounted over the supporting bars, the U-shaped bars being so arranged at a side of the frame as to receive the head adjacent said side when the supporting bars are moved over the conveyor and means for shifting the U-shaped bars transversely of the conveyor for rocking the fingers.

5. In a hemp breaking machine, a frame, an endless conveyor on the frame, a stalk breaking means over one end of the conveyor and delivering the broken stalks to the conveyor, means driving the conveyor, means over the other end of the conveyor for engaging the fibers when they are delivered to the conveyor, the last mentioned means including a pair of endless driven members, arranged with upper and lower runs, spaced transverse bars carried by the endless members, spaced fingers pivotally mounted on each bar with the lower run of the endless members projecting the iingers into the bers on the conveyor, means connecting together the fingers of each row on a bar for simultaneous rocking movement of said fingers, a head projecting from one of the fingers in each of the alternate rows,

a head projecting from one of the fingers in each of the remaining rows, a LIL-shaped bar positioned to; receive the heads in. the alternate rowsgaa second U-shaped, bar positioned tomeceive the heads in. the remaining. rows. as .the supporting barsare moved over the. conveyor, andmeans fory rocking the U-shaped bars for` rocking. the: rows of fingers projecting into the stalks.

6, A hemp. treating machine.. comprising a breaker for crushing hemp stalks, a conveyor for transporting the latter, endless traveling. members at each. sideof the. machine aboveath-e conveyor. movable in the direction. thereof, barscarried at their ends in spaced relation by said members, depending spaced fingers pivotally carried by the bars which successively project into the fibers carried by the conveyor, and means for driving the conveyor and the endless members and means for rocking the fingers in the planes of their respective bars.

'7. A hemp treating machine comprising a breaker for crushing hemp stalks, a conveyor for transporting the latter, endless traveling members at each side of the machine above the conveyor movable in the direction thereof, means for driving the conveyor and said members in the same direction, bars supported at their ends in spaced relation on said members, sets of depending iingers pivoted on each of the bars arranged to project into the path of fibers carried by the conveyor as said bars successively approach said conveyor, means operating to oscillate the fingers on alternate bars simultaneously in opposite directions transverse to the conveyor.

8. A hemp treating machine comprising a breaker for crushing stalks, a conveyor for transporting the latter, an endless conveyor superposed thereon having a lower reach movable in the direction of movement of the conveyor and means for synchronously driving said conveyors, transversely extending bars spaced on the reaches of the endless conveyor, sets of depending fingers pivoted on said bars, those on each bar being connected for simultaneous rocking movement, each set having an actuating member, the actuators of adjacent bars being offset from each other and separate means movable laterally and cooperating with said actuators on alternate bars to oscillate the lingers of adjacent bars in opposite dlrections transversely of the lirst mentioned conveyor.

9. A hemp treating machine comprising a stalk crusher, two similarly constructed endless conveyors disposed horizontally one above the other each having spaced transversely extending bars, the upper flight of the lower conveyor movable in a direction to convey hemp from the crusher, a platform supporting the lower iiight of said conveyor for receiving debris conveyed in the opposite direction by said conveyor to a point of discharge, agitating lingers depending from the bars of the upper conveyor which in the travel of its lower flight enters the body of hemp carried on the bars of the upper flight of the lower conveyor, means for driving the conveyors and means for actuating said lingers to dislodge foreign particles from the hemp during the travel together of the contiguous flights of said conveyors.

10. In a hemp breaking machine a frame, a stalk breaker, a conveyor leading therefrom having transverse bars receiving the stalks and fibers, endless members supported above the conveyor having upper and lower runs carrying transverse bars and means for driving said conveyor and said members, spaced transverse bars carried by the endless members, spaced fingers plvotal'ly mounted on each barpwith the lower run of the endless members projecting the fingers into. the fibers on the conveyor, means connecting together the fingers of each row on a bar for simultaneous. rocking movement of said iingers, a head4 projectingr from one of the lingers in each of the alternate rows, a head'projecting from one of the fingers in each of the remaining rows, U-shaped bars positioned to.y receive the heads'in the alternate rows aslthe supporting bars are movedtoward the conveyor, and means for rocking one of the U-shapedbars.transversely of the conveyor for causing rocking of the fingers in alternate rows, and means rocking the other Ushaped bar for causing rocking of the lingers in the other rows when said fingers are projected into the fibers.

11. In a hemp breaking machine a frame, a stalk breaker, a conveyor leading therefrom havlng transverse bars receiving the stalks and fibers, endless members supported above the conveyor having upper and lower runs carrying transverse bars and means for driving said conveyor and said members, spaced transverse bars carried by the endless members, spaced ngers pivotally mounted on each bar with the lower run of the endless members projecting the fingers into a position to engage fibers on the conveyor, means connecting together the fingers of each row on a bar for simultaneous rocking movement of said lingers, means causing rocking of the lingers on alternate bars when projected into fiber engaging position transversely of the conveyor and including a projection on one of the iingersin each of the alternate rows of lingers, a rockable means adapted to receive the projection, means oscillating the rockable means, a similar projection on one of the fingers in each of the remaining rows and a rockable means engaging the second mentioned projections for causing oscillation of the remaining rows of fingers.

12. In a hemp treating machine, a frame, a conveyor thereon, means for crushing hemp stalks located above one end of the conveyor, a second conveyor located above the rst mentioned conveyor and moving in unison therewith, a plurality of spaced rows of lingers carried on the second conveyor extending transversely thereof and arranged with their free ends adjacent the first mentioned conveyor, and means for rocking said lingers transversely during the longitudinal travel of the conveyors.

13. In a hemp treating machine, a frame, a conveyor thereon, means for crushing hemp stalks arranged to discharge the stalks onto one end of the conveyor,asecond conveyor located above and movable longitudinally with the first mentioned conveyor carrying transversely extending bars, rows of ngers depending from the bars arranged to successively engage the crushed stalks as discharged from the crushing means, and to travel with them, and means for rocking said rows of lingers transversely of the first mentioned conveyor during such travel.

14. In a hemp treating machine, a frame, a conveyor thereon, means for crushing hemp stalks arranged to discharge the stalks onto one end of the conveyor, a second conveyor comprising endless members spaced over the edges of the first mentioned conveyor and moving in unison therewith, bars journaled at their ends in spaced relation on said members, pivoted lingers depending from each bar arranged to engage the crushed stalks discharged upon the first mentioned conveyor and to travel with the same and 11 means for rocking said fingers transversely to the Number direction of movement of the conveyors. 475,819 ADAM L. TRUMBO. 494,175 692,936 REFERENCES CITED 5 1,132,122 The following references are of record in the :llg5gg le of this patent: f 3

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10 Number 3,452 Montgomery Feb. 28, 1844 54.070 472,988 Fremerey 1 Apr. 19, 1892 208.639

Name Date Smith May 31, 1892 Smith Mar. 28, 1893 Smith Feb. 11, 1902 Roberts Mar. 16, 1915 Roberts Jan. 31, 1922 Knowles Apr. 3, 1934 FOREIGN PAI'ENTS Country Date Sweden Sept. 3, 1918 Great Britain Dec. 27, 1923 

